December 1996
Johnson and Johnson made false claims about sunscreen
19 December 1996
The Commerce Commission said today that, in its view, Johnson and Johnson has made false claims about one of its sunscreens, Sundown Broad Spectrum SPF30, and may have breached the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Principles of NZ competition law increasingly used by others
10 December 1996
An international survey has shown that the principles on which New Zealand's competition law, the Commerce and Fair Trading Acts, are based, are increasingly being used by other Pacific rim countries in their competition law.Relates to: Fair Trading
November 1996
Dunedin businesses to meet Commerce Commission and Ministry of Consumer Affairs
6 November 1996
The Commerce Commission and Ministry of Consumer Affairs are inviting all Dunedin business people to a seminar about the Fair Trading Act and the Consumer Guarantees Act on Wednesday November 13.Relates to: Fair Trading
October 1996
Commission urges shops to check for unsafe Christmas toys and bikes now
30 October 1996
The Commerce Commission is urging businesses to check the safety of their Christmas toys and bicycles now, rather than waiting until customers or the Commission find goods that do not meet product safety standards.Relates to: Fair Trading
High Court upholds that directors and companies can both be convicted
4 October 1996
The Christchurch High Court today upheld an earlier District Court judgment that if a company breaches the Fair Trading Act, then individuals, including directors, can be convicted as well as the company.Relates to: Fair Trading
Tyco recalls and exchanges Magna Doodle toy parts
3 October 1996
One of the worlds largest toy manufacturers, Tyco, is recalling and exchanging parts of its Magna Doodle drawing set as part of a settlement with the Commerce Commission.Relates to: Fair Trading
'HeartSmart' brand withdrawn
2 October 1996
The 'HeartSmart' brand will disappear from eggs following a settlement between the Commerce Commission and producers of the eggs.Relates to: Fair Trading
September 1996
Hiding behind lawyers doesn't help companies
18 September 1996
Too often managers are hiding behind lawyers and not accepting responsibility when their companies have breached the Fair Trading Act Commerce Commission Chairman Dr Alan Bollard said today.Relates to: Fair Trading
High Court upholds cellphone convictions
15 September 1996
The Auckland High Court on Friday upheld convictions and fines totalling $11,400 against two cellphone companies who had previously been found guilty of breaching the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission increases enforcement activity
5 September 1996
Commerce Commission Chairman Dr Alan Bollard said in the Commission's 1995-96 annual report that there have been more education activities, investigations, warnings, settlements and court actions carried out than in previous years.Relates to: Fair Trading
July 1996
Clothing importer fined $3,500 nightclothes did not meet safety standard
25 July 1996
An Auckland clothing importer, Norman Malcolm, was fined $3,500 in the Auckland District Court yesterday after admitting that he falsely claimed the Commerce Commission had approved his products and that he sold children's nightclothes that did not meet the fire safety standard.Relates to: Fair Trading
'Anna Fiori' and 'Franco Burrone' made in Italy or Australia? $3,000 fines for country of origin breach
22 July 1996
After a Commerce Commission warning, three Wellington shoe shops have been fined $1,000 each in the Lower Hutt District Court today for breaching the country of origin labelling standard made mandatory by the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission warns about false endorsements
21 July 1996
The Commerce Commission is warning that promoters have made false claims that it has endorsed or approved a United States get rich quick scheme which has since spread to New Zealand.Relates to: Fair Trading
ASB Bank settles with Commission – changes advertising
16 July 1996
As part of a settlement with the Commerce Commission, ASB Bank Ltd has changed its mortgage advertising.Relates to: Fair Trading
June 1996
Agreement to address valuation concerns
28 June 1996
Fletcher Homes Ltd and Residential Mortgages Ltd (RML) have agreed with the Commerce Commission about how they will address the concerns of homeowners who believe their properties may have been over-valued.Relates to: Fair Trading
Four breaches of Fair Trading Act cost Cellular One $8,535
24 June 1996
Pacific Telephones Ltd, which trades in Christchurch as Cellular One, has been fined $7,500 plus costs of $1,035 today after pleading guilty in the Christchurch District Court to three charges of misleading customers about the cost of cellphones and one of not having cellphones available as advertised.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission acts against labelling breaches
20 June 1996
The Commerce Commission has so far this financial year taken action against 40 businesses who it alleged were breaching the country of origin labelling regulations.Relates to: Fair Trading
Breach of Fair Trading Act costs Homebuilding Company and Real Estate Agency $12,000
17 June 1996
Kapiti Coast Real Estate Ltd and Kapiti Homebuild Ltd were sentenced today in the Wellington District Court for breaching the Fair Trading Act by misleading a home owner about a fee included in the cost of building his home.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission and Consumer Affairs staff to meet Timaru businesses
14 June 1996
The Commerce Commission and Ministry of Consumer Affairs will be visiting Timaru businesses and speaking at meetings on June 18 and 19.Relates to: Fair Trading
Real estate company and builder admit misleading home buyer about fee
10 June 1996
Kapiti Coast Real Estate Ltd and Kapiti Homebuild Ltd today pleaded guilty in the Wellington District Court to breaching the Fair Trading Act by misleading a home owner about a fee included in the cost of building his home.Relates to: Fair Trading
May 1996
Dunedin company and executives fined $28,000 for misleading advertising
30 May 1996
(Note: This case was subsequently appealed to the High Court. The findings were altered and the level of fines against Mr Keith Weatherall and Weatherall Jewellers were reduced.)Relates to: Fair Trading
Fletcher Homes, Residential Mortgages and Bennett and Associates offer compensation to home buyers
29 May 1996
The Commerce Commission is very pleased with progress towards an out of court settlement with Fletcher Homes Ltd, Residential Mortgages Ltd (RML) and Bennett and Associates Ltd over allegedly misleading valuations in relation to a first home ownership package.Relates to: Fair Trading
Cellphone retailers fined $11,400 for Fair Trading Act breaches
24 May 1996
Two cellphone companies, Cellular Systems Ltd and Cellphone Warehouse Ltd, have been fined a total of $11,400 in the Auckland District Court today after being found guilty on three charges each of making misleading claims about cellphone prices.Relates to: Fair Trading
Warehouse settlement with Commission – jacks recalled
7 May 1996
As part of a settlement with the Commerce Commission, the Warehouse is recalling "Cric Meccanico" and "Pagoda" jacks.Relates to: Fair Trading
April 1996
Importer fined $3,000 for night-clothes fire safety standard breach
26 April 1996
Nationwide Importing Ltd has been fined $3,000 after pleading guilty in the Auckland District Court to supplying children's night-clothes which did not meet the product safety standard.Relates to: Fair Trading
ADVERTISING COSTS NOEL LEEMING $19,570
1 April 1996
Noel Leeming was fined $19,000 with costs of $570.00 imposed last Friday in the Christchurch District Court.Relates to: Fair Trading
March 1996
New Plymouth businesses to meet Commerce Commission and Ministry of Consumer Affairs
20 March 1996
The Commerce Commission and Ministry of Consumer Affairs are inviting all New Plymouth businesses to a seminar about the Fair Trading Act and the Consumer Guarantees Act on Wednesday March 27.Relates to: Fair Trading
February 1996
Noel Leeming guilty of six charges
29 February 1996
Noel Leeming Ltd has today been found guilty in the Christchurch District Court of four charges of making misleading claims in its "we will pay your interest" and "your interest paid" promotions.Relates to: Fair Trading
Conviction for obstruction
26 February 1996
An Auckland man, Wilfred Ronald Wrigley, has been convicted in the Henderson District Court for obstructing Commerce Commission investigators executing a search warrant.Relates to: Fair Trading
ANZ fined $16,000 – warning for all advertisers
23 February 1996
ANZ Bank was fined $16,000 today in the Wellington District Court on three charges relating to its "Yes Mortgage" marketing campaign run last year.Relates to: Fair Trading
Kmart fined $25,000 for selling dangerous bicycles biggest product safety fine to date
21 February 1996
Coles Myer New Zealand Holdings Ltd, which trades as Kmart, has been fined $25,000 today in the Auckland District Court on three charges of selling dangerous bicycles.Relates to: Fair Trading
Kleins fined $6,000 for making false claims about sale prices
16 February 1996
Kleins New Zealand Ltd, which runs an extensive chain of jewellery stores, was found guilty and fined $6,000 today in the Auckland District Court on three charges of making false claims in a sale promotion.Relates to: Fair Trading
Kmart admits selling dangerous bicycles
14 February 1996
Coles Myer New Zealand Holdings Ltd, which trades as Kmart, pleaded guilty today in the Auckland District Court to three charges of selling dangerous bicycles.Relates to: Fair Trading
January 1996
ANZ admits mortgage ads were misleading
30 January 1996
The ANZ Bank today pleaded guilty to three charges relating to its "Yes Mortgages" marketing campaign run last year.Relates to: Fair Trading
